Sorry fans

It's been a whirlwind few weeks of work. Tomorrow, NCAA 2nd round soccer match between Butler and Michigan State. Monday, I've got the pleasure of calling the NCAA Cross Country championships, which you can watch on NCAA.com. Couple that with other jobs, and blogging just hasn't been a priority. But, I am dedicated to the picks.

This week, we are gearing up to the big matchups over Thanksgiving, not to mention conference championship games in the subsequent weekends. Will there be a BCS party crasher? I say yes, because Auburn will fall to either Alabama or their own spotlight of the did-you-pay-your-QB saga. Get some online shopping done today and watch some football...

#16 Virginia Tech @ #24 Miami (+2) - I like the home team with points here: Canes 27, VA Tech 21

#13 Arkansas @ #21 Mississippi State (+3.5) - At some point, the karma of being the Cam Newton whistleblower will haunt an okay SEC team: Hogs 35, Starkville 24

#9 Ohio State @ #20 Iowa (+3) - Another home dog I like. Why? Because Iowa has ruined a perfectly good season, so they might as well ruin another team's. Hawkeyes 20, Buckeyes 10

#8 Nebraska @ #19 Texas A&M (+3) - The Huskers still don't know how they lost to Texas. Corn 36, Aggies 24

Last week: You can tell the distractions are getting to Cover Two. 2-1 on winners; 1-2 on Vegas (and a perfect push on the first bball game prediction)

Season: 39-14 and 32-22; looks like a FAKE profit will be turned though!

Off go the Crimson Glasses

So much for my claim that Alabama deserved a shot in the national championship. And, despite the defensive prowess, I still will never pick LSU in a top 25 matchup. Fortunately, after a so-so week (3-2 picking winners, 2-3 against the number; season: 37-13, 31-20) of predictions, I've been eye-deep in more soccer (you know you want to watch it) and the start of the college basketball season... which, by the way, shouldn't have polls until the first week or two of games are played. Lots to still learn.

Unfortunately, thanks to that crazy schedule, we need to fly through this week's picks of relatively lame games...

#23 South Carolina @ #22 Florida -6.5

I really have no idea on this game. The Gamecocks have been the ultimate good SEC team this year. Capable of pulling off really good victories, but then victimized by other good SEC teams. Spurrier can clinch the division AND beat his former team in their own place. According to all of the "experts," the Gators were supposed to keep getting better as the season went along, because of their youth. Yeah, and they said the same thing about Texas. Advantage: Swamp

Florida 31, South Carolina 24

#24 Kansas State @ #17 Missouri -13.5

Almost a two-touchdown spread! You know why? Because of Baylor last week at Oklahoma State. Pretender Big 12 school goes to play a more proven Big 12 school. The number is big, but the butt whopping will be bigger...

Missouri 45, Kansas State 24

#19 Mississippi State @ #12 Alabama -13

Make no mistake... Alabama WILL beat Auburn in the final week of the regular season. So, TCU will make the national championship game. But, does that mean the Tide really care about Mississippi State? What have we learned from this blog, last week's results and this week's news? Two things:

1. Pretender teams whose schedules are back-loaded get abused on the road by better teams.
2. Mississippi State didn't pay $200,000 for the services of Cam Newton. They should have.

Alabama 34, Mississippi State 17

And, to close, in honor of the start of the college basketball season (and as the advocate of the Horizon League), I would strongly consider Detroit (+9) at New Mexico tonight. The Titans could surprise some good teams out of the box.

Rush to Judgement

It's one of those weeks (and months) where the candle is being lit on both ends. If you are a big fan of women's soccer, boy do I have the weekend for you.

But, it's meant that the analysis of college football just isn't as thorough as I would like this week. So, despite the continued success (4-0 on winners; 2-2 versus Vegas last week), we have to rush to judge this week's slate of contests...

#18 Arkansas @ #19 South Carolina -4.5

I've gone against South Carolina too many times this year. They can run. They can catch. The only wildcard? Consistency. I like them at home against Arkansas.

Gamecocks 31, Arkansas 24

#21 Baylor @ #17 Oklahoma State -9

Big number. But, despite beating up on a terrible Texas team, Baylor is a beneficiary of good circumstances this season. Spotlight. Road game. No contest.

Oklahoma State 45, Baylor 28

#15 Arizona @ #13 Stanford -8

I don't see Stanford losing this game, mainly because I still view Arizona as a pretender. But, I think this is a good Pac-10 battle (meaning, 8 points is too steep of a spread)

Stanford 34, Arizona 28

#6 Alabama @ #10 LSU +6.5

The Tide are now the best option, 1-loss team with the outside hope of a BCS Championship Game appearance. That's a big deal. For the amazingly-large-number week in a row, Bama gets another team off a bye week, and on the road (See: South Carolina game). BUT, the Tide roll in off their own bye. Oh, and did I mention they might be motivated. AND, they get the #1 team in the country at home to close the season.

Alabama 24, LSU 17

#3 TCU @ #5 Utah +5

I am not at all surprised to see the Utes getting points at home. TCU's defense has been stellar this season. I haven't watched enough of Utah to have any rational, credible, logical reason for stating this: I think TCU has a team more than capable of completely handling Utah.

Frogs 28, Utah 22.5

Season: 34-11; 29-17 (I don't know how, but this is a really good weekend of games that seems to have gone overlooked. Sneak away from your plans and catch some afternoon games)